Metal-casting machine.



No. 760,523. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. E. GROSSLEY.

METAL CASTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 23, 1902.

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APPLIOATTON FILED IAN. 23. 1902.

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No. 760,523. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. E. GROSSLEY.

METAL CASTING MACHINE.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1902i.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST CROSSLEY, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE AULIMAN COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METAL-CASTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 760,523, dated May 24, 1904.

Application iled January 23, 1902. Serial No. 90,928. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, ERNEST CRossLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county ot' Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Casting Machines, of which the following is a specilication, reference being' had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for casting pig metal, among' the objects being tliese--namely, to provide a mechanism which shall be initially of low cost in construction, which shall be simple in construction, which shall be of great capacity, entirely automatic in its operations, and capable of withstanding the severe conditions which are imposed upon machinery of this sort.

Some oi' the essential i'eaturesof the improvements are particularly applicable for use in casting-machines ofthe class in which use is made of large annular table-like carriers, at

the peripheries ot' which are supported a continuous series of molds, and for purposes oi' illustration I have selected a mechanism of that class to clearly present one way of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a plan view of amachine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective oi a section of the series of molds and some of the adjacent parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical section radial oi' the apparatus as a whole and longitudinal of one of the molds, taken on the line .fr .fc of Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is an end view of two adjacent molds and some of the adjacent parts.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken transversely through the parts in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, showing two of the molds in end View and also illustrating the parts by which the molds are inverted and diagrammatically illustrating the steps taken while they are being turned over. Fig. 7 is a partial side View of the parts in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l.

In the drawings I have illustrated more or less conventionally an entire mechanism in Figs. l and 8, but of course it will be understood that so far as concerns many of the details there can be variation without departing from the invention. The series of molds and their immediate supporti ng parts are indicated as an entirety by A.

B indicates a mast or central vertical shaft for the support of the derrick apparatus for handling the molds and other parts in placing and replacing them. A rotary movement of the proper speed can be imparted to the apparatus in any of the well-known ways, Dindicating such a mechanism, t being a horizontal power-shaft, a pinion or driving-wheel, and c arack upon the rotary table, power from an engine or motor being transmitted through these.

The ring proper is shown as being composed of two circular frame parts E F, built up of angle metal and connecting-plates, as shownin Fig. 3, or in any other suitable way. These are connected to and secured to the mast as a center.

The molds are supported upon the inner ring E and the outer ring F, and although these molds are substantially similar to one another for convenience they may be here .for some purposes considered in pairs, those of each pair being indicated at Cr Gr. Such description, however, as is given of any one as to details may be applied to them all. Preferably each has two metal-receivingcavities I I diametrically opposite to each other and one of which is al-.

ways normally in position to receive molten metal.

The molds are formed or provided with stud-shafts or gudgeons g g, which project from their ends and are preferably on the horizontal line ot' the center of gravity of the molds, respectively. These shafts or gudgeons are mounted in bracket-bearings H H, which rise from and are secured to the aforesaid carrying-rings E F. One of the mechanical elements by which each mold is inverted. is a wheel or toothed plate J, secured to its stud-shaft g'. There being two mold-cavities there are preferably i'our of the teeth or projections on this part J', they being indicated in pairs, each comprising a tooth j' and a tooth j; but through the greater part of the rotation of the apparatus it is desirable that the molds should be prevented from thus turning on their individual axes, and this is ac complished by a two-part device, one of which parts is carried by the mold and is indicated by the pins or projections K K, which extend longitudinally outward from the plates or wheels J. The other element or part of the holding device consists of a stationary plate or bar N, supported upon uprights or standards M, which in turn are at their bottom rigidly fixed to a foundation or support L, the rotary part of the apparatus revolving past the uprights M, which latter, as stated, hold the bar N stationary. T he relative positions of the parts just referred to are such that at the time the molten metal is being re'- ceived in the molds two of the pins K K are just above the top surface of the bar N, one vbeing in front and the other in the rear of the vertical plane of the axis of the mold, so that the turning of the latter is effectually prevented. rIhe bar N extends around the axis at B nearly the entire circle, but at O a gap is formed-that is to say, part of the bar N is cut away, so that between the terminal points at '11. n. the pins K are freed and the turning of the mold is permitted. This turning is effected by means of two upwardly-extending projections R R, secured to stationary parts S of the frame or properly held in any suitable way. These are placed at that part of the circle where appears the aforesaid gap or cutout in the bar N. As the table rotates each wheel or toothed plate J approaches and contacts with the projection R, and the latter being stationary it imparts about one-quarter of a rotation to the mold. Then contact is effected with the next projection R', which imparts another quarter of a rotation, bringing the top mold-cavity downward and causing its contents to be dumped. Immediately after this second step in rotating the mold occurs a pair of the pins K K pass the extremity a' of the holding-plate N and come to their positions above the latter, after which the mold is locked against rotation until another revolution of the table is completed. rIhe metal is poured intoV the molds at a point just beyond that at which the molds are themselves locked against turning. The several steps above referred to are illustrated in Fig. 6.

The metal is poured or allowed to How into the molds successively as they pass under the spout V from the furnace or from a'ladle or other suitable receptacle. To prevent any of the metal from spilling or flowing down between any two neighboring molds, I employ the dciiectors or guides I). Each of these is stationary and held firmly rigid upon .the rotating table-frame, being supported in uprights or standards Q, bolted to the inner and outer rings E E. Each guide or deflector has two top surfaces p j), one inclined toward the mold-cavity in the mold G and the other inclined to the mold-cavity in the mold G. At p p each is formed with a wall sloping in the direction opposite to the surface p above it.

ter are curved or inclined inward-that is, in

the direction of rotation of the mold-close proximity can be maintained between the parts and spilling or dropping of the metal effec-` tually prevented.

The advantages of the mechanism herein described will be readily understood upon comparison with those which have been heretofore used or proposed. Generally use is made of casting apparatus comprising as its essential element a pair of endless chains with molds supported between them and carried by them and the disadvantages incident to such structures are well known, the initial cost being excessive and the parts being so numerous and connected together in such way that economical durability is not attained and there is great expense incident to maintaining them in working order.

In a few instances an attempt has been made to employ the horizontally-arranged and hori- Zontally-rotating table with a peripheral series of molds; but such difficulties have been incident to them as concerns holding the molds in proper position under a counterbalance and guiding the molten metal properly into them that although theoretically recognized as superior to the endless-chain constructions they have notgone into any noteworthy use. In these earlier table constructions employment has been made of yielding holders, such as springs or spring-bars bearing upon some part of the mold or its stud-shaft, with the expectation that when suficient rotary force was exerted upon the mold the spring or spring-bar would be compelled to yield and permit rotation. In other structures of this type the guides or metal-deflectors have been mounted in such way as to rise and fall, there being combined with them rods extending downward, which worked upon cam-surfaces to effect their rising when the inverting of the mold was to be accomplished; but experience has shown in dealing with the excessively-hot molten metal that reliance cannot be placed upon these moving parts, and particularly upon springs or elastic bars, as the high heat soon causes the destruction of the springs, and the molten metal, iiying iiakes, and sparks enter the bearing-apertures of the sliding rods and prevent their intended movements, irregularity of operation and frequent breakage of the parts resulting. These difficulties and disadvantages I have overcome by reducing the mechanism of this sort toits simplest form, removing all yielding holders, locking the molds against rotation' in a positive manner, and so constructing the metal-guides P and the molds and relating them in such way that spilling or overiiow is practically entirelyprevented.

My apparatus has great capacity-in fact,

IOO

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double the capacity of any construction with which I am acquainted, other factors being equal. Each of the molds Gr Gr is twice the length of those ordinarily used and has an outer cavity I and an inner cavity I at the top and at the bottom. These are separated by a wall The molten metal is poured or delivered downward on the circle of these walls and divides, part flowing outward and part inward, forming two separated pigs. With this apparatus I am enabled to pour and cast a furnace charge (from thirty to forty tons) in approximately one-half the time that has been necessary with the earlier mechanisms.

1. In a pig-casting mechanism,the combination of the mold-carrier, a series of molds rotatively mounted on the carrier on axes substantially radial to the axis of rotation of the carrier, the two-part holding device to prevent rotation of the mold on its axis, one part consisting of a stationary bar held independently of the molds and moldear-rier, and the other part carried by the mold and engaging with(l the stationary part, substantially as set fort 2. In a mechanism for casting pig metal, the combination of the mold-carrier, the series of molds each rotatively supported on the carrier on an axis radial to the axis of the carrier, the two-part device for temporarily holding each mold against rotation, one part thereofI consisting of a stationary part supported independently of the mold and mold-carrier and parallel to the path of the mold, and the other part consisting of a projection carried by the mold and engaging with the stationary part, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mechanism for casting pig metal, the combination of the horizontal rotary tablelilre carrier, a series of molds each mounted on an axis substantially radial to the axis of the carrier, means for temporarily holding the molds against rotation, consisting' of a stah tionary bar supported independently of the molds and mold-carrier, and adjacent to the path of the molds, and two projections carried by each mold adapted to engage with said stationary bar to prevent rotation, and means independent of the holding device for automatically rotating the mold on the carrier.

4. In a pig-casting machine,the combination of the mold-carrier, the series of tw0part molds rotatively mounted on the carrier on axes substantially radial to the axis of the carrier and each adapted to present first one cavity and then the other Jfor the reception of the metal, the two-part holding' device to prevent the rotation of the mold on its axis, one part consisting of a stationary bar held independently of the molds and mold-carrier and the other part carried by the mold and engaging with the stationary part, and means for automatically rotating the molds, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pig-casting machine, the combination of the rotary table-like carrier, the series of molds having their axes of rotation in radial planes, the two-part holding device consisting of a stationary bar held independently of the molds, and of the mold-carrier, and arranged parallel to and outside of the path of travel of the molds, and the other part consisting of a projection carried by the mold, and engaging with the said stationary part, substantially as set forth.

6. In a pig-casting machine, the combination of the rotary table-like carrier, the series of molds circularly arranged and pivotally mounted at their ends upon the carrier, means for temporarily holding the molds against rotation consisting of a stationary bar held independently of the mold and mold-carrier, and arranged parallel to and outside of the path of travel of the pivotal mounting for the outside ends of the mold, and the projections carried by the mold-pivots adapted to engage with the said stationary'bar to prevent the mold from rotating, and means for automatically rotating the mold on the carrier, sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST CROSSLEY.

Witnesses:

J AMus L. BnEBoUrr, GRACE A. MCCLURE. 

